Scots with dementia who go missing can be traced faster with new life-saving device
Scots with dementia who go missing can be traced faster thanks to a life-saving new device.
Alzheimer Scotland has partnered with Police Scotland to launch a small, yellow fob holding the personal details of a vulnerable person to get them home faster.
If someone finds a person with a SafeConnect fob who appears lost, they can use their smartphone to tap the fob and access the stored information.
The devices will be given free to anyone suffering from dementia under the initiative, which is being rolled out following successful pilots.
Alzheimer Scotland said: "We're proud to launch SafeConnect in partnership with Police Scotland – a new safeguarding initiative to support people with dementia who may be at risk of going missing. "The SafeConnect fob is a small, yellow device that can be carried or attached to clothing. It holds secure emergency contact details and can be scanned with a smartphone using NFC (which enables communication between two electronic devices) to help quickly reunite someone with their loved ones or carers.
"After a successful pilot in Argyll & Bute and West Dunbartonshire, we're now rolling out SafeConnect fobs free of charge to anyone living with dementia across Scotland."
There are an estimated 90,000 people living with dementia in Scotland. Police Scotland say that at some point 40% of them will go missing.
Since 2021, the Herbert Protocol has been rolled out in Scotland to help police and other agencies quickly and safely locate missing people who have dementia.
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It involves filling out a form containing an individual's vital details to assist police in the search of a missing person enquiry, such as their physical description, medical conditions, habits and routine.
GPS decides are also being used by an increasing number of families to keep their loved ones safe.
To request a free SafeConnect set-up pack or find out more about the initiative, contact our Dementia Advisor team at advice@alzscot.org or call 0300 373 5774.
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